More of the Boston Trip...

This is how I prepared for my trip...let's just say, it's not the most fun time I've ever had. After 25 ish years of asthma issues, this was my first time needing breathing treatments. I'm much more familiar with being on the other side of the mask thingy as a Mom. By the 3rd try, I was feeling a bit better so I could work on my son's hat. After all I had a deadline to meet. Does this now qualify as one of those-where's the strangest places you've knit before?

And this is how I arrived at Logan-had I had more room, I would have brought along more shoes for the daughter! The week before, I had found 5 more boxes of her clothes and shoes that I didn't know we'd been storing for her. Time to get the clothes to the kid!

After delivering the bags, I tried to snap a cell phone picture to send to the other kids-something I like to do to show them that Mom has arrived. You know, a picture is worth a 1,000 words kind of thing? Well, this was all I could get of the daughter to which middle daughter replied "way to go!"

But later on, I was able to snap the computer guru fixing my computer. It's been temperamental lately, and I can say that I've missed having her in town to show it who is boss!

Now, after the quick trip to NYC, I was able to get the son to sit (ore really stand) still long enough to snap a few pictures of the hats and scarf that I'd made for him. See? I got the hat done that I'd been working on during the breathing treatments.

This is the pattern from the Hat's On! book, and I'm thinking I could have gone down a size. He generally prefers the beanie style hats, but With all the snow they've had this year, I'm guessing from time to time the cuffed up hat would come in handy on the worst of the days.

This is the 'Cathy's Beanies' pattern over <<----there. I like the way it hugs the base of his neck and goes down over his ears. Just what I was hoping for. It's so much easier to knit for someone that's close by, rather than mailing them 3,000 miles away!

Finally, the new Blustery Day Scarf per his request. He's got a different way to wear it, looped in half and threaded through the loop. It looks really good with his black wool coat. Kid cleans up well! Here I was thinking that it was going to be too late for him to get much use out of it this season-but right after I left, they were smacked with yet one more snow storm. So, this turned out better time wise than Dad's vest last year!

Speaking of snow, this was all I could find while in town. Several piles out at the mall parking lot. It was cold, and my ears were telling me there should have been much more! Thank goodness I know how to knit wool!

Two of my daughters have issues with their stomachs, but can surprisingly eat sushi without a problem. So...off to sushi we went one night. This was the first time I'd had green tea ice cream! And you know, I liked it. Now, it's never going to replace chocolate-but it was the perfect cap for the dinner. Just the right touch.

Have you had the chance to see some of the magazines from the UK? This past month, they were giving away stitch markers. Now, I do make my own, and awhile back I was sent a great set, but well, I tend to loose them-like when the Blustery Day Scarf was 'lost'....we won't go there, but let's say, there's always a reason to have some extras hanging around!

And speaking of magazines, have you flipped through the current issue of Knitters? I first noticed this swatch that caught my eye. I thought it was a pocket, but I believe it's actually a swatch.

It goes to this tank top that really caught my eye...

I kept thinking..hmmmmmmm...that stitch is soooooooo familiar! Where have I seen it before?

Ya....look familiar? I THOUGHT so!

Now...everyone say HI Angela!

"HI ANGELA!"

Angela started my new obsession with Malabrigo by sending me that skein of Azalea back over the holidays! Oh boy has she started something! She met me over near BU and we took the T over to Windsor Button where we are standing here in front of a whole rack of really yummy skeins of Malabrigo....etc... Now, I had been here last year when I spent Christmas with my daughter. However, let me just say, having a knitter take you there in person really makes a big difference! a) she's familiar with the good stuff they have and b) she's not going to roll her eyes and ask if she's got to go with you and c) she teaches you the T to get there, so you don't end up parking the rental car in the loading zone thus gaining a ticket as your 'take home' souvenir! Sadly I forgot to take pictures of the store, I was so excited about all the fun things to touch and see that I only get to read about on blogs and then Angela had to get back to work for the afternoon. *sigh* Thanks my Boston knitting friend! It was a blast and I can't wait to shop with you again! Can you believe, that her very first yarn she knit with was Malabrigo? Sheeshhhh...mine was something from the Woolworth basement wayyyyyyyyy long time ago!

So, what did I bring home? Well, I picked up some Happy Feet DK yarn and a pattern. I'm sooooooo determined to make a pair of FITTING socks for me goofy feet! And you know what? As of 2 nights ago, it looked like this:

And I'll tell you a secret...it actually fits! But I'll show you that later. But the top picture is more of what it looks like. It's much darker than the 3/4 ths sock. But oh, is this nice stuff to work with!

Now, check this one out. Have you seen this before? You can wear it as a scarf or...

knit it into a pair of socks! This is similar to the Flat Feet sock yarn that I've been reading about. This is called Happy Choices by Plymouth yarns. I was so intrigued by it, I had to bring it home. This will need much smaller needles than the size (US) 3 (3.25mm) needles that I'm using on the Happy Feet, so I'll work that up soon. But how cool was this idea? They have lots of different colorways to take care of your color preferences. I just couldn't leave without something so unique.

Before she left, Anglea gave me directions to head out on the T...

To go to Woolcott and Company! Oh man, another place I visited a year ago. Now, you need to know that this store is over in Cambridge, and if you're not careful, you might miss it. Wanna know how I know? ha! But, you'll be really glad you found this place if you get yourself over there.

You have to go down a couple of stairs but you will not regret it in the least!

Again, I forgot to take pictures inside, but I did get the outside shot this time! Sheessshhh...and here's one of the things that I found over there! In the new issues of the magazines, I kept noticing this hat. It's made out of a new yarn called Nuna. And is it ever soooooooooo soft! It's a merino/silk blend that's just oh so soft. I picked up some for both myself in the navy and the daughter in grey. I want to make mine first, since my daughter's size is smaller. I'm hoping that I'll only have to take out one of the lace repeats to make it fit her. Either way, this is a fabulous take home project! I should have taken a picture of their sample on their glass head, but again, I forgot. I get so excited around fabulous yarns I guess.

Here's a few other shots I got around town. After leaving Woolcott, I found myself at Harvard. I'm a dork, I'll say that first, but I just couldn't resist the chance to call my parents and say, "Hey Mom, you're daughter's at Harvard! But you never thought you'd ever hear me say that? Heck, I never thought those words would come out of my mouth. We'll just not tell anyone that I wasn't here for classes, but rather just walking through." Both my parents laughed with that one, while the kids just sorta groaned. Ahhhhh..youth. (did I really just repeat my Grandmother's line?)

Ok, that about sums up the rest of the trip. I also brought home two earaches that have had me tossed for a loop. I'm really getting tired of using up wool/yarn money to pay for medicines that I don't have insurance for. So, I'm outta here, I have some socks to knit! But I can't wait to go back! I love to see my kids, but it's also a fabulous town for knitters to shop in while the kids are off to work! So much to see and touch and so many choices! And then there's the book stores! I love being in a town that feels so 'readable'. I felt that way about Seattle, WA years ago, too. It's a great time! Try it! Oh, and try the Malabrigo...Anglea knows what she's talking about!

Blustery Day Scarf

Blustery Day Scarf
©Cathy Waldie, January 29, 2009

(US) 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needles
one (US) 9 (5.5mm) needle straight for 3 needle bind off.
310 g (360 g, 426g)/692 yards (803 yards, 950 yards) Paton’s Classic Merino Wool (or any worsted weight yarn)

Stitch marker, row marker: optional

Size: 7.75"(19.5cm) x 72” (84”, 100”) (183 , 213.5, 254cm) [shown in 100" length] Long enough for an adult to wrap around the neck 2 times.
Gauge: 15.5 sts/24 rounds=4" (10 cm) in pattern

K=Knit
P=Purl
C/O=Cast On
B/O=Bind Off
PM=Place Marker

C/O 60 stitches, join in the round being careful not to twist stitches. PM to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 1: *K9, p1* around 6 times.
Round 2: Knit around
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 for pattern 192 (226, 262) times.
Repeat Round 1, once more.
Bind off with a 3 needle bind off. Cut yarn, and weave in ends.

Swoosh!

I am in the greater Boston area now, just in time to deliver the Blustery Day Scarf to my son. See? Just in time!

Really, there's a wee bit of snow left..right over there, in the back left hand corner of the parking lot! (click on the picture to see it better...) *sigh* just like getting Dad's wool vest to him in June. Timing...huh?

The other day I decided to knit up a couple of hats to go with the scarf. After all, if it's going to be cold enough at some point again in the future to wear a scarf that's 100" long, he might want a hat to wear, as well.

I ended up with 2 hats. Both are also made with Paton's Classic Wool, in black. On the left hand side, is another of Charlene Schurch's Stockinette Watch Cap from her book, Hat's On! in the 110 stitch size(adult Medium, I believe). I love that pattern for really cold weather-it's knit up on (US) size 6 (4.0mm) needles, so it's a nice, close knit. 1 skein gives you a little bit of left over wool when you're finished with this size.

On the right hand size, is another of my pattern: Cathy's Beanies that you can find right over <<------ there. It's the Adult Medium size.

See how they all look together?

Check this out...beer pong tables aren't just for College students anymore! Ahahahah...they're for former college students' Mom's who want to stretch out a 100" scarf for picture day! Now, I got my flat pictures, do you think I got my 'try it on, I want to see how it fits pictures? Pfffft.....nope...because just like that...

They were out the door, heading to NYC for the weekend and an alumni reunion of sorts.

I'm taking that as a sign that he liked them. Swoosh! and they were gone!

What are the odds it won't get lost in NYC?

Spring Break fun

Spring Break was celebrated at our house yet again this year as the daughter came home for a week. Love having her around! While she was home, there were a few things we got done, in between moving furniture and sorting through boxes that really needed to be done.

Here's the 100" scarf nearly finished. While at this stage I thought it might be long enough to accomplish the goal of wrapping twice around to keep the son warm in the frozen Northeast, I asked a couple of 'models' to help me test the length in order to send the pictures off to the son for approval. Tell me how cute these are? Now, to be fair...the daughter was freezing her toes off! Nice-huh? come home for Spring Break just to freeze!

The scarf at 100" hanging loose both in finished and nearly finished states.

Wrapped once around the neck.

Wrapped once around the neck and again around the face. I'm hoping that it'll do the trick with the Nor'easter begin to blow!

More homework reading time-boy does this bring back memories of my kids when they were little. I loved it when they were learning to read and then filling in their reading time reading out loud to me for their reading credit time! Quite often they'd read while I was making dinner. It's a great idea if you enjoy children's literature to get in more 'story time' as you go through your daily routine while listening to your children's progress.

Best baker's helper was on tap for frosting the cake. He did one side while I did the other and raced to the center. Loved the help, too!

Now, this has got to be one of my favorite pictures. I hope you can see her hands in it...once a kid...always let the inner child come streaming through...Make a wish!

How many do you know who can schedule Spring Break to share with lots of family and celebrate a birthday? I know I never did.

The evening was capped off as Syracuse went into their 2nd of 6 OT's in their hard won basketball game. It was a great game, and one of her favorite TV activities...NCAA basketball season is at hand-guess what will be on her DVR?

Now, how can you not love a kid who brings over coffee (to break an asthma attack) and cream cheese and bagels? (Don't hate me for the pictures-they're just too darned cute not to post! and rumor has it, they look just like me!) Oh, and she got me active over on Facebook, too while she was here! It was a lot of fun the past week to get intouch with bunches of her friends and some of my old college buddies from back at SVSC, too! Did you know there are knitting groups on Facebook, too? Oh baby!

Yep, far too short a visit and can't wait to see you over the summer! So, who needs a Social Work Intern this summer? I know of two ladies looking for an internship!

Happy 28th Birthday!

To my 28 year old Smurfette!

Hopefully when you go back to school you won't turn this blue! So glad you were home and that we could share your day together!

plugging along...

The scarf is at 65" at this point. Seems like I've been here before...har har... Yep, still tagged with new stitch and row markers are steadily at work here.

I am finding that while watching movies, these 'tube' scarves go faster than I'm aware of. Have you found that in some of your 'mindless' knitting? Watching the snow report up in Boston has also put a little speed in this project as well. I keep remembering last year when I was working on my Dad's vest. I loved the project and the feeling of knitting hugs into it so much, I didn't want to give it up. Therefore, he didn't get the vest until June - in time for Father's Day, but not needed in the warmer months of the year. Listening to my parents talk about how often this winter season they've worn their hand knits, it's made me make sure to get this finished before the need is gone for my son. Yes, guilt is a motivating factor here! Guilt works. Amazingly well.

Now, one last thing, I want to mention the needles here. I am a complete devotee to my Addi's. When I lost the first scarf, I was so intent on starting this over again as quickly as possible, I picked up a pair of Clover bamboo circulars, as I wasn't near a store that carried Addi's. Right now, I'm thrilled with the fact that my Addi's Clicks don't come in a 16" cable. (There's a reason here, I believe the tips that come with the set are too long to work with the 16" length. Notice that in the 16" circulars the difference of the length of the tips? Yep, I think if they come out with a 16" length of cable, the tips would have to be shorter, or come as a separate set. My opinion, of course.) Knowing what I feel now, I'm thrilled they didn't come in 16" sizes, I'd be sick to my stomach to have lost them with the first scarf.

When I picked up the bamboo set, I intended to switch as soon as I could pick up another Addi 5.5mm size, hoping they'd have them at the stores in the new blue cable that I reallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy love! However, when I went to measure the other Addi's in the 5.5mm sizes, and then compared the bamboos that I'd been using, there is a difference in the actual size. The bamboos are a bit bigger. I have decided to keep the bamboos for this scarf so it doesn't throw the gauge off. I did that years ago when I first switched to Addi's from my old Boye's. I was making a baby blanket and I thought..hmmmmmm....not going to matter. Was I wrong!

Can you see the difference in the 2nd picture at the top of the blanket? Yep, big, noticeable difference. Now, it could be the fact that it was a gap of 5 years between working on the blanket, and then also switching needles after I'd discovered the Addi's. Between the work time, I know I gained a lot of knowledge as a knitter with the new things I'd learned via the Internet groups and the books that I'd taken the time to read and put into practice. Things like gauge, learning what your knitting is doing, learning what the stitches were actually doing in the fabric that I was creating makes a big difference with the final outcome. Also, learning to try different tools and fibers and what feels comfortable has been a great knitting education here. And it also tells me I have a lot more to learn.

I'm not sorry that I've gone through this. There is a reason to pick different 'tools' for your projects. For me, I love my Addi's. I love the smooth, slickness to them and their joins, are fabulous for the projects that I've made with them. The bamboos have a definite 'drag' to them while using them with the wool. Which is why I prefer to use bamboo straights for my dishcloths and hanging dishtowels. The 100% cotton on them works well for me. Same with the Brittany Black Walnuts that I have only 2 pairs of. Hindsight, I should have picked up a few more before they were totally gone. *sigh* 20/20 vision I guess.

What does this all mean? Give lots of different 'tools' a try. The day I walked into a LYS looking for a pair of circular needles and hearing all they carried was Addi's and knowing that I was on a really tight budget with their price tags, made me wince. I had never tried them and couldn't imagine any needle making that big of a deal in my knitting. I had found the Susan Bates to be better than the old colored Boye's. They seemed slicker and I thought I was OK with that. I did miss the lack of colors in the needles that I liked knowing by sight which pair was which. Then I started hearing discussions about the difference between wood/bamboo/metal needles, and again, after knitting for more than 30 years at that point, I thought it was all hogwash. Keep in mind, I was still using my metal straights for the Baby Jiffy Knit sweater! Ya, those days are long gone. I had no idea how much easier/lighter weight it was for my wrists to switch to circulars with smooth joins would make while knitting.

What's the upshot of all of this? Give something different a try when you get the chance and make up your own mind. Try out a pair of needles from a friend, try out some while at a LYS that has extras on the table for you to use for a little bit, etc... There are subtle differences between brands, and sizes, etc... I won't even touch on a pair of double points I picked up recently, again in a rush to get a project started, that ended up having one needle of the set a noticeable difference in size. Pay attention to what you're buying, and what you want to use if you are going to spend any kind of time in the future knitting. I've taught a group to knit using chopsticks. They were a great way to learn to 'test' the waters. I've also taught a group of Brownies to knit on dowel sticks that I'd cut and sharpened to use. Both ways are inexpensive choices to give to a group who wants to try. But, when the time and finances come to a point that you want to invest in yourself, just like investing in a computer, or the tools in your toolbox to work on the house or the car, pick something you want that fits your needs that you are comfortable with using. After all, if you're making a sweater or an afghan, you're certainly putting in a great deal of time with those tools in your hands. Treat your hands well. They'll give you years and years of great knitting time if you do! Tools, massages, exercises, rest time, go 'hand in hand' with great knitting (and crocheting) experiences.

Above all-enjoy!

Now, back to watching the Bachelor 'cry' some more, so I can get ready for the daughter to come home this weekend and hear her opinions once again on how Jason was 'wronged' the last time he was on the show. I'm dying to hear her opinions on the ending of this go-round. Shesshhh...I'd sworn off regular watching of this show a long time ago..and dangitall anyway..she's sucked me back in this season. What's your guilty TV watching secrets? I'm knitting while I'm watching last night's episode on the computer while every TV "News" show has been talking about this. OY!

Rule #2

If my new rules started with Rule #1-label/tag your knitting...then Rule #2 has to be:

Carry it in a bag that zips shut!

Sheessshh...that should have been a no-brainer! What was I thinking?

Zipping along-at the 46" mark as I type. *sigh* maybe it will be finished before March goes out a like a Lamb...

Stay warm!

GRRRRRRRRRRRR......

Scarf...meet Mardi Gras!

Well, that WAS going to be the title here. Right about the time I WAS going to post the pattern with a picture of the finished scarf. Right about the time I SHOULD have been wrapping the scarf up and mailing it out this week while my son is taking his Bar Exam. (Do you see a theme here?)

See this picture? It's the last one of this scarf. Probably.ever. Barring any REALLY BIG miracles.

Why? 'Cuz stupid people give me a headache. A really big one. Stupid people who CAN'T wait their turn, have a modicum of patience, remember their politeness rules from Kindergarten...

While getting off of the plane the other day, it got left behind. How? Well, I had been sitting in the aisle seat. The little "DING" went off that signals it's time to get up and gather your things. You know the one, that's the one that means it's apparently time for stupid people to think that while they're sitting next to the window - which is the third seat from the aisle and a good seven rows from the front door...they don't have to wait for the path to be clear for them to reach over the top of someone else (that would be me) bending over while putting a computer into a computer bag on the floor, and reach further more to the over head bin above the seat in front of us to grab their stuff, thus knocking more things out of the overhead bin so it all lands on my bad foot. Ya...really stupid.

Oh, but it gets better...the words out of her mouth literally made me drop my mouth open. She goes, and I quote, "Oh, I nearly hit your foot." My answer? "No, ... you did." Whereby I stood there in pain wondering what in tarnation was going through her head to think that she was so important she didn't have to follow any rules of common decent behavior. Her next comment capped off the moment. She followed up her first idiot comment with a very sarcastic, "Well, you must really get hurt a lot." WHAT???????????? are you kidding me? Like I shouldn't have been annoyed, hurt, shocked by her juvenile, careless behavior? I walked off the plane totally amazed at the events that had taken place moments before. Completely amazed once again at the stupidity of people over and over when in public when their Mothers aren't watching them.

About an hour later, I got mad at myself. Apparently while paying attention to the stupid behavior of that woman, I failed to notice that the scarf was no longer in my tote bag. Gone. Lost.Poof! I searched high and low, under seats, in bins, etc...I've spent the past 3 days on the phone calling airlines, airports, lost and found, baggage claims begging, praying and hoping that it would miraculously turn up.

Nope, not at all. At least not yet. So much for the " 'EVERYTHING' gets sent to Lost and Found" comments they are trained to give you when you report that you've left something on a plane. So, here's the lesson for you to all learn from my experience...a) don't let stupid people distract you from what you're doing. Just because they're pushing over top of you...apparently it would have been a much better idea for me to have stood up and told her to sit down and wait her turn. (Heaven knows I've had enough training for little kids to know how that works) b) Double and triple check your knitting bag every time you are out in public before leaving one spot for another to make sure you aren't leaving behind a good 30 hours worth of work designing, planning, knitting, ripping, creating, and re-knitting up exactly what your son is needing to keep him warm in the frozen tundra. Especially when you're within two hours of finishing the project. c) label your knitting as well as your bag with your name, etc.. so if it's left behind, someone will have a clue you're interested in getting it back. d) don't assume that EVERYTHING gets sent to lost and found. It could have been thrown in a trash bag or 'acquired' by someone else/aka...stolen.

You know those flimsy paper tags that airports give you for your luggage? They certainly don't last very long on your bags, but I think they NOW work really well for attaching directly to your knitting. The little bits of elastic work well to put a loop through your stitches and are light weight enough to keep them from distorting your stitches. One little snip from your scissors to remove them (granted they could be cut as well by the 'acquire-er' down the road, but....) if you can't untie them when you're finished.

Ok, so I am naive to think that people are going to be honest and return things that they've found like I do. I dream.big. But, at least you have given your knitting a fighting chance to come home to you. At least it puts a little bug in the back of their heads that what they have in their hands doesn't belong to them. And that you want it back.

It could work.

Right?

After all, sit for a moment with the knitting you're currently working on and think about the money you have invested in that particular project. Count up the yarn/wool (five skeins), the needles (Addi's), the measuring tape, the stitch markers (one of them) and row counters (eight of them on there) and all my pattern notes for the project in there. Not to mention the pens, paper, etc...that goes along with any of my projects that I'm working on. Add it up. Then go around town to re-purchase them and see what your final bill is to make you think about labeling your knitting. After all...'stuff' happens that will stop you from your normal routine and take your attention off what you so lovingly spent a lot of time working on when you least expect it.

Then ask yourself, if your knitting is worth it?

Ya, not to mention the cost of the time and gas to drive all over tim-buck-two to find just the 'right things' or the things that will get you through until you can get back home to your favorite tools of your trade.

Yep...the most polite response I can think of right now is a big, old, fat....

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR......

I'm labeled and ready to reknit this scarf for my son. After all, it would be nice to get it to him before the snow melts and he no longer needs it. No matter how stupid that woman behaved on the plane last Sunday. But, if you find it, please let me know? I'm running out of Motrin here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your heart be cherished by someone very special!